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With the hopes of finding homes for thousands of orphaned animals, PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc. and the PETCO Foundation will host their 7th Annual National Pet Adoption Days May 1-2. Working with more than 1,000 grass roots animal welfare groups across the country, PETCO stores will host in-store adoptions and draw attention to the plight of homeless pets.

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With the help of a partnership with online adoption organization Petfinder.com, PETCO and the PETCO Foundation hope to exceed last year's number of 11,527 animals placed with families. As part of the effort to encourage adoptions, PETCO stores offer Adoption Gift Booklets to new pet parents. All the new pet parents have to do is take their adoption papers to any PETCO, and they will receive a free gift booklet with savings on products and services to help welcome their new family member home.

"Spring is a time of renewal, and what better way to breathe new life into a family than by adopting a sheltered companion animal?" PETCO Foundation Director Paul Jolly said. "There are millions of wonderful animals in shelters waiting for homes, eager to share their unconditional love."

PETCO, the PETCO Foundation and Petfinder.com all make the adoption of homeless animals a year-round cause, but have chosen May, which is "Pet Adoption Month," to focus their combined energies on this important issue.

"With so many animals in need of homes, adoption is the best alternative for finding a new family member," Petfinder.com President Betsy Saul said. "We hope this adoption effort will help call attention to all the wonderful animals available in shelters across the country."

People interested in adopting a companion animal can go to their neighborhood PETCO store, or visit their local animal shelter. To find a store near you, log on to www.petco.com. Or, to locate adoptable animals in your area, check out www.petfinder.com.

PETCO is a leading specialty retailer of premium pet food and supplies, with a commitment to quality animal care and education. PETCO operates more than 660 neighborhood stores in 44 states and the District of Columbia, as well as a leading destination for on-line pet food and supplies at www.petco.com. The PETCO Foundation, PETCO's non-profit organization, has raised more than $17 million since inception in 1999. More than 2,000 non-profit grassroots animal welfare organizations from around the nation have received support from the Foundation. Through the PETCO Foundation, PETCO endeavors to be a community leader in promoting the welfare of companion animals, as well as the importance of the human-animal bond.

Petfinder.com is the nation's largest and oldest online adoption community. Working with more than 7,100 animal welfare organizations across the country, Petfinder.com offers a searchable database of adoptable companion animals. Last year, Petfinder.com adoption partners found homes for more than 1.1 million animals.

SOURCE: PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc.